Systems and methods for capturing images from a lock screen

ABSTRACT

Techniques for entering an image-capture user interface from a locked mobile device and capturing an image while the mobile device is still in a locked state. In an example implementation, a mobile device at a lock-screen may detect a change in orientation of the mobile device from a portrait orientation to a landscape orientation. In response, the mobile device may display an image-capture UI. In some implementations, the image-capture UI may be overlaid over one or more elements of the lock-screen. Accordingly, the mobile device may provide visual notice to a user that the phone is still in a locked state while offering image capture functionality. In another implementation, the mobile device may provide another indication that the mobile device is still locked.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation application claiming priority under35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,662 entitled“Systems and Methods for Capturing Images from a Lock Screen,” filed 27Feb. 2015, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in theirentirety as if fully set forth below.

BACKGROUND

Smartphones and other mobile computing devices are highly beneficialmobile companions. However, access to one of the most useful and popularfeatures of smartphones—the ability to take pictures—is often burieddeep within the smartphone's user interface (UI). This lack ofaccessibility significantly increases the time between a user realizingthey want to take a picture and being able to realize that desire. Suchdelay may be the difference between capturing a moment and losing itforever. Accordingly, the utility of a smartphone and associated userexperience may be significantly improved by streamlining the UI flow foractivating a camera mode on smartphones.

SUMMARY

Some or all of the above needs may be addressed by certainimplementations of the disclosed technology. Certain implementationsinclude entering an image-capture mode of a mobile computing devicewhile the mobile computing device is in a locked state and capturing animage while the mobile device is still in a locked state. For example, amobile computing device at a lock-screen may detect a change inorientation of the mobile computing device from a portrait orientationto a landscape orientation. In response, the mobile computing device maydisplay an image-capture UI. In some implementations, the image-captureUI may be overlaid over one or more elements of the lock-screen.Accordingly, the mobile computing device may provide visual notice tothe user that the phone is still in a locked state while providing imagecapture functionality. Thus, implementations of the disclosed technologymay improve the usability of camera-equipped mobile computing devices.

According to an example implementation, a method is provided. The methodmay include displaying, by a mobile device in a portrait orientation, alock-screen user interface. The method may further include, while stilldisplaying the lock-screen user interface, displaying a liveimage-capture preview overlaid over at least a portion of thelock-screen user interface such that one or more elements of thelock-screen user interface are still visible. The displaying of the liveimage-capture preview may be in response to determining that the mobiledevice has entered a landscape orientation. The method may yet furtherinclude receiving, at the mobile device, user input corresponding to acapture image command. In response to the user input, the mobile devicemay capture an image corresponding to the live image-capture preview.

According to an example implementation, another method is provided. Themethod may include displaying, by a mobile device in a portraitorientation, a lock-screen user interface. The method may furtherinclude, while still displaying the lock-screen user interface,displaying a live image-capture preview overlaid over at least a portionof the lock-screen user interface such that one or more elements of thelock-screen user interface are still visible. The displaying of the liveimage-capture preview may be in response to determining that the mobiledevice has entered a landscape orientation. The method may yet furtherinclude, responsive to a predetermined amount of time elapsing withoutreceiving user input at the mobile device, stopping the displaying ofthe live image-capture preview.

According to another example implementation, a computer readable mediumis provided. The computer readable medium may be embodied in acomputer-program product, and may store instructions that, when executedby at least one processor in a system, cause the system to perform amethod described above.

According to yet another example implementation, a mobile device isprovided. The system may include a memory operatively coupled to aprocessor and configured for storing data and instructions that may beexecuted by the processor to perform a method described above.

Other implementations, features, and aspects of the disclosed technologyare described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimeddisclosed technology. Other implementations, features, and aspects canbe understood with reference to the following detailed description,accompanying drawings, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Reference will now be made to the accompanying figures and flowdiagrams, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an illustrative computing devicearchitecture 100, according to an example implementation.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustration of a computing device 200, according toan example implementation.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustration of activation 300 of an image-capturemode from a lock-screen of a mobile computing device 200, according toan example implementation.

FIG. 4 depicts illustrations 400A and 400B of different rotations andorientations of a mobile computing device 200, according to an exampleimplementation.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method 400 for activating an image-capturemode from a lock-screen of a mobile computing device 200, according toan example implementation.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of another method 500 for activating animage-capture mode from a lock-screen of a mobile computing device 200,according to an example implementation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations of the disclosed technology include techniques forentering an image-capture mode of a mobile computing device while themobile computing device is in a locked state and capturing an imagewhile the mobile device is still in a locked state. In an exampleimplementation, a mobile computing device at a lock-screen may detect achange in orientation of the mobile computing device from a portraitorientation to a landscape orientation. In response, the mobilecomputing device may display an image-capture UI. In someimplementations, the image-capture UI may be overlaid over one or moreelements of the lock-screen. Accordingly, the mobile computing devicemay provide visual notice to the user that the phone is still in alocked state while providing image capture functionality.

Throughout this disclosure, certain implementations are described by wayof example in relation to activating an image-capture mode of a lockedmobile device responsive to determining a change in orientation of themobile device. However, implementations of the disclosed technology arenot so limited, and may be include activating an image-capture mode of amobile device responsive to various user inputs received at the mobiledevice or changes in mobile device state.

Some implementations of the disclosed technology will be described morefully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Thisdisclosed technology may, however, be embodied in many different formsand should not be construed as limited to the implementations set forthherein.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth.However, it is to be understood that implementations of the disclosedtechnology may be practiced without these specific details. In otherinstances, well-known methods, structures, and techniques have not beenshown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of thisdescription. References to “one implementation,” “an implementation,”“example implementation,” “some implementations,” “certainimplementations,” “various implementations,” etc., indicate that theimplementation(s) of the disclosed technology so described may include aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not everyimplementation necessarily includes the particular feature, structure,or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in oneimplementation” does not necessarily refer to the same implementation,although it may.

Throughout the specification and the claims, the following terms take atleast the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise. The term “or” is intended to mean aninclusive “or.” Further, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended tomean one or more unless specified otherwise or clear from the context tobe directed to a singular form.

Unless otherwise specified, the use of the ordinal adjectives “first,”“second,” “third,” etc., to describe a common object, merely indicatethat different instances of like objects are being referred to, and arenot intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a givensequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any othermanner.

In some instances, a computing device may be referred to as a mobiledevice, mobile computing device, a mobile station (MS), terminal,cellular phone, cellular handset, personal digital assistant (PDA),smartphone, wireless phone, organizer, handheld computer, desktopcomputer, laptop computer, tablet computer, set-top box, television,appliance, game device, medical device, display device, or some otherlike terminology. In other instances, a computing device may be aprocessor, controller, or a central processing unit (CPU). In yet otherinstances, a computing device may be a set of hardware components.

A presence-sensitive input device as discussed herein, may be a devicethat accepts input by the proximity of a finger, a stylus, or an objectnear the device. A presence-sensitive input device may also be a radioreceiver (for example, a WiFi receiver) and processor which is able toinfer proximity changes via measurements of signal strength, signalfrequency shifts, signal to noise ratio, data error rates, and otherchanges in signal characteristics. A presence-sensitive input device mayalso detect changes in an electric, magnetic, or gravity field.

A presence-sensitive input device may be combined with a display toprovide a presence-sensitive display. For example, a user may provide aninput to a computing device by touching the surface of apresence-sensitive display using a finger. In another exampleimplementation, a user may provide input to a computing device bygesturing without physically touching any object. For example, a gesturemay be received via a video camera or depth camera.

In some instances, a presence-sensitive display may have two mainattributes. First, it may enable a user to interact directly with whatis displayed, rather than indirectly via a pointer controlled by a mouseor touchpad. Secondly, it may allow a user to interact without requiringany intermediate device that would need to be held in the hand. Suchdisplays may be attached to computers, or to networks as terminals. Suchdisplays may also play a prominent role in the design of digitalappliances such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), satellitenavigation devices, mobile phones, and video games. Further, suchdisplays may include a capture device and a display.

Various aspects described herein may be implemented using standardprogramming or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware,hardware, or any combination thereof to control a computing device toimplement the disclosed subject matter. A computer-readable medium mayinclude, for example: a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk, afloppy disk or a magnetic strip; an optical storage device such as acompact disk (CD) or digital versatile disk (DVD); a smart card; and aflash memory device such as a card, stick or key drive, or embeddedcomponent. Additionally, it should be appreciated that a carrier wavemay be employed to carry computer-readable electronic data includingthose used in transmitting and receiving electronic data such aselectronic mail (e-mail) or in accessing a computer network such as theInternet or a local area network (LAN). Of course, a person of ordinaryskill in the art will recognize many modifications may be made to thisconfiguration without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimedsubject matter.

Various systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable mediums may beutilized for entering an image-capture mode of a mobile computing devicewhile the mobile computing device is in a locked state and capturing animage while the mobile device is still in a locked state, and will nowbe described with reference to the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an illustrative computing devicearchitecture 100, according to an example implementation. Certainaspects of FIG. 1 may be embodied in a computing device 200 (forexample, a mobile computing device as shown in FIG. 2). As desired,embodiments of the disclosed technology may include a computing devicewith more or less of the components illustrated in FIG. 1. It will beunderstood that the computing device architecture 100 is provided forexample purposes only and does not limit the scope of the variousembodiments of the present disclosed systems, methods, andcomputer-readable mediums.

The computing device architecture 100 of FIG. 1 includes a CPU 102,where computer instructions are processed; a display interface 106 thatacts as a communication interface and provides functions for renderingvideo, graphics, images, and texts on the display. According to certainsome embodiments of the disclosed technology, the display interface 106may be directly connected to a local display, such as a touch-screendisplay associated with a mobile computing device. In another exampleembodiment, the display interface 106 may be configured for providingdata, images, and other information for an external/remote display thatis not necessarily physically connected to the mobile computing device.For example, a desktop monitor may be utilized for mirroring graphicsand other information that is presented on a mobile computing device.According to certain some embodiments, the display interface 106 maywirelessly communicate, for example, via a Wi-Fi channel or otheravailable network connection interface 112 to the external/remotedisplay.

In an example embodiment, the network connection interface 112 may beconfigured as a communication interface and may provide functions forrendering video, graphics, images, text, other information, or anycombination thereof on the display. In one example, a communicationinterface may include a serial port, a parallel port, a general purposeinput and output (GPIO) port, a game port, a universal serial bus (USB),a micro-USB port, a high definition multimedia (HDMI) port, a videoport, an audio port, a Bluetooth port, a near-field communication (NFC)port, another like communication interface, or any combination thereof.

The computing device architecture 100 may include a keyboard interface104 that provides a communication interface to a keyboard. In oneexample embodiment, the computing device architecture 100 may include apresence-sensitive display interface 107 for connecting to apresence-sensitive display. According to certain some embodiments of thedisclosed technology, the presence-sensitive display interface 107 mayprovide a communication interface to various devices such as a pointingdevice, a touch screen, a depth camera, etc. which may or may not beassociated with a display.

The computing device architecture 100 may be configured to use an inputdevice via one or more of input/output interfaces (for example, thekeyboard interface 104, the display interface 106, the presencesensitive display interface 107, network connection interface 112,camera interface 114, sound interface 116, etc.) to allow a user tocapture information into the computing device architecture 100. Theinput device may include a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, atrack pad, a touch-verified track pad, a presence-sensitive track pad, apresence-sensitive display, a scroll wheel, a digital camera, a digitalvideo camera, a web camera, a microphone, a sensor, a smartcard, and thelike. Additionally, the input device may be integrated with thecomputing device architecture 100 or may be a separate device. Forexample, the input device may be an accelerometer, a magnetometer, adigital camera, a microphone, and an optical sensor.

Example embodiments of the computing device architecture 100 may includean antenna interface 110 that provides a communication interface to anantenna; a network connection interface 112 that provides acommunication interface to a network. According to certain embodiments,a camera interface 114 is provided that acts as a communicationinterface and provides functions for capturing digital images from acamera. According to certain embodiments, a sound interface 116 isprovided as a communication interface for converting sound intoelectrical signals using a microphone and for converting electricalsignals into sound using a speaker. According to example embodiments, arandom access memory (RAM) 118 is provided, where computer instructionsand data may be stored in a volatile memory device for processing by theCPU 102.

According to an example embodiment, the computing device architecture100 includes a read-only memory (ROM) 120 where invariant low-levelsystem code or data for basic system functions such as basic input andoutput (I/O), startup, or reception of keystrokes from a keyboard arestored in a non-volatile memory device. According to an exampleembodiment, the computing device architecture 100 includes a storagemedium 122 or other suitable type of memory (e.g., RAM, ROM,programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory(EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks,removable cartridges, flash drives), where the files include anoperating system 124, application programs 126 (including, for example,a web browser application, a widget or gadget engine, and or otherapplications, as necessary) and data files 128 are stored. According toan example embodiment, the computing device architecture 100 includes apower source 130 that provides an appropriate alternating current (AC)or direct current (DC) to power components. According to an exampleembodiment, the computing device architecture 100 includes a telephonysubsystem 132 that allows the device 100 to transmit and receive soundover a telephone network. The constituent devices and the CPU 102communicate with each other over a bus 134.

According to an example embodiment, the CPU 102 has appropriatestructure to be a computer processor. In one arrangement, the CPU 102may include more than one processing unit. The RAM 118 interfaces withthe computer bus 134 to provide quick RAM storage to the CPU 102 duringthe execution of software programs such as the operating systemapplication programs, and device drivers. More specifically, the CPU 102loads computer-executable process steps from the storage medium 122 orother media into a field of the RAM 118 in order to execute softwareprograms. Data may be stored in the RAM 118, where the data may beaccessed by the computer CPU 102 during execution. In one exampleconfiguration, the device architecture 100 includes at least 125 MB ofRAM, and 256 MB of flash memory.

The storage medium 122 itself may include a number of physical driveunits, such as a redundant array of independent disks (RAID), a floppydisk drive, a flash memory, a USB flash drive, an external hard diskdrive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, a High-Density DigitalVersatile Disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, an internal hard disk drive,a Blu-Ray optical disc drive, or a Holographic Digital Data Storage(HDDS) optical disc drive, an external mini-dual in-line memory module(DIMM) synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), or an externalmicro-DIMM SDRAM. Such computer readable storage media allow a computingdevice to access computer-executable process steps, application programsand the like, stored on removable and non-removable memory media, tooff-load data from the device or to upload data onto the device. Acomputer program product, such as one utilizing a communication systemmay be tangibly embodied in storage medium 122, which may comprise amachine-readable storage medium.

According to one example embodiment, the term computing device, as usedherein, may be a CPU, or conceptualized as a CPU (for example, the CPU102 of FIG. 1). In this example embodiment, the computing device may becoupled, connected, and/or in communication with one or more peripheraldevices, such as display. In another example embodiment, the termcomputing device, as used herein, may refer to a mobile computing device200, such as a smartphone or tablet computer. In this exampleembodiment, the computing device may output content to its local displayand/or speaker(s). In another example embodiment, the computing devicemay output content to an external display device (e.g., over Wi-Fi) suchas a TV or an external computing system.

In some embodiments of the disclosed technology, the computing device200 may include any number of hardware and/or software applications thatare executed to facilitate any of the operations. In some embodiments,one or more I/O interfaces may facilitate communication between thecomputing device and one or more input/output devices. For example, auniversal serial bus port, a serial port, a disk drive, a CD-ROM drive,and/or one or more user interface devices, such as a display, keyboard,keypad, mouse, control panel, touch screen display, microphone, etc.,may facilitate user interaction with the computing device. The one ormore I/O interfaces may be utilized to receive or collect data and/oruser instructions from a wide variety of input devices. Received datamay be processed by one or more computer processors as desired invarious embodiments of the disclosed technology and/or stored in one ormore memory devices.

One or more network interfaces may facilitate connection of thecomputing device inputs and outputs to one or more suitable networksand/or connections; for example, the connections that facilitatecommunication with any number of sensors associated with the system. Theone or more network interfaces may further facilitate connection to oneor more suitable networks; for example, a local area network, a widearea network, the Internet, a cellular network, a radio frequencynetwork, a Bluetooth enabled network, a Wi-Fi enabled network, asatellite-based network any wired network, any wireless network, etc.,for communication with external devices and/or systems.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustration of a computing device 200, according toan example implementation. As shown in FIG. 2, the computing device maybe a mobile computing device, for example, a smartphone or a tablet. Themobile computing device may have a built-in or integrated display forpresenting a graphical user interface (GUI) 255 or other UI. The displaymay be combined with a presence sensitive input device to form atouch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display for receiving user inputfrom a stylus, finger, or other means of gesture input. In someimplementations, the mobile computing device may also include or beassociated with a sound producing device 280, such as a speaker,piezoelectric buzzer, or the like.

According to certain implementations, the mobile computing device 200may include one or more antennas or radios for wireless communication.These may include antennas for receiving GPS, Wi-Fi, or other radiocommunications. In addition, the mobile computing device may include oneor more sensors for detecting, for example, orientation, acceleration,temperature, pressure, altitude, magnetic heading, etc.

According to certain implementations, the mobile computing device 200may be in communication with an image capture device 270. As shown inFIG. 2, the computing device may include a built-in or internal imagecapture device, for example, a camera or CCD. Moreover, the computingdevice may have multiple image capture devices, for example, bothforward-facing and rear cameras. The image capture device may include orbe associated with an illumination device 275, for example, a flashdevice or IR beacon. In another example implementation, the imagecapture device may be external to the computing device and incommunication with the computing device, for example, through a directconnection or wireless coupling.

According to certain implementations, the mobile computing device 200may have one or more physical widgets 170 175. A physical widget may beor include a button, switch, toggle, etc. In some implementations, aphysical widget may be depressible. For example, a button may physicallycontract when sufficient force is applied.

According to certain implementations, a mobile computing device 200 suchas a smartphone or tablet may be in a locked state wherein access tocertain mobile device functionality is restricted. When the display ofsuch a locked mobile computing device is powered on, the mobilecomputing device may present a lock-screen 375. A lock-screen may be aUI or portion thereof that regulates immediate access to a mobilecomputing device. To navigate past a lock-screen and gain access to therestricted functionality, a user may be required to confirm theirintention to use the mobile computing device by entering a gesturethrough the device's presence-sensitive display or other sensors. Theuser may also be required to authenticate themselves by entering apassword, key combination, or other unique gesture.

In some implementations, a lock-screen may present one or more UIelements alerting the user that the mobile computing device is in alocked state. As shown in FIG. 3, an icon 380 or other indication mayprovide notice to a user that the phone is in a locked state. Othericons may provide an indication of other states of the mobile computingdevice, for example, network connectivity, remaining battery life, or atime and date 385 associated with the mobile computing device.

With conventional mobile device technology, it can take several stepsbefore a user at a lock-screen of a mobile computing device 200 is ableto access image-capture functionality of the mobile computing device.For example, a user may be burdened with first unlocking the mobilecomputing device, enduring an unwieldy and error-prone userauthentication process, and then navigating through a series to menusbefore finally launching a camera application—all when time is of theessence for capturing a fleeting scene.

As described herein, certain implementations of the disclosed technologyinclude entering an image-capture mode of a mobile computing devicewhile the mobile computing device is in a locked state and capturing animage while the mobile device is still in a locked state. For example,some implementations may reduce the amount of steps required to take apicture to two button presses: one in portrait mode, one in landscapemode. Accordingly, the usability of mobile computing devices may beimproved over conventional approaches and the likelihood increased of auser successfully capturing a moment which can be stored and shared withothers.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustration of activation 300 of an image-capturemode from a lock-screen of a mobile computing device 200, according toan example implementation. According to certain implementations, themobile computing device may enter the image-capture mode based on adetected change in state of the mobile computing device. For example, asshown in FIG. 3, a mobile computing device in a portrait orientation maybe rotated to a landscape orientation. The mobile computing device maydetect this rotation or change in orientation, and, in response, enteran image-capture mode. In some implementations, the mobile computingdevice may detect the change in orientation using one or more sensors,e.g., accelerometer, gyroscopes, magnetometers, etc. Other suitablehardware for determining a change in orientation will be apparent to oneof skill in the art.

Although every tilt of a mobile computing device 200 may not accuratelyreflect user intent to enter an image-capture mode, rotating asmartphone to take a picture in landscape orientation may be anefficient and intuitive mechanism considering lock-screens ofsmartphones are presented almost exclusively in portrait mode. Moreover,a user will often wish to rotate a smartphone to a landscape orientationto capture a wider horizontal angle of a scene.

In some implementations, the mobile computing device 200 may consideradditional or alternative factors in determining whether a change inorientation should result in entering the image-capture mode. Forexample, the mobile computing device may consider transition timebetween orientations; direction, speed, and smoothness of rotation;hysteresis, etc. Moreover, in some implementations, a mobile computingdevice may be “trained” or automatically learn when a particular user ofthe mobile computing device intends to trigger the image-capture mode.In another implementation, a user may able to manually fine tunesettings associated with the mobile computing device to improvedetection. Accordingly, various implementations may include technologyto reduce false positives and otherwise improve the accuracy ofdetection.

FIG. 4 depicts illustrations 400A and 400B of different rotations andorientations of a mobile computing device 200, according to an exampleimplementation. According to certain implementations, an image-capturemode may be activated with different parameters based on variousqualities of a detected motion or change in orientation of the mobilecomputing device. For example, 400A and 400B show a mobile computingdevice rotated in opposite directions to achieve different portraitorientations. In some implementations, each rotation, or resultingportrait orientation, may be associated with different configuraitons ofthe image-capture mode. For example, as described below, entering anentering an image-capture mode may include displaying an image-captureUI including a live image-capture preview. Rotating to a first portraitorientation may result in entering the image-capture mode with a liveimage-capture preview based on a front-facing camera of the smartphone.Rotating another direction to a second portrait orientation may resultin entering the image-capture mode with a live image-capture previewbased on a rear camera of the smartphone.

According to certain implementations, entering an image-capture mode mayinclude displaying an image-capture UI. In some implementations, theimage-capture UI may include a live preview corresponding to the currentview of an image-capture device 270 of the mobile computing device.Accordingly, the live image-capture preview may provide the user with anindication of what a photo may look like if captured by a smartphone'scamera at that point in time. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, thescenery behind the mobile computing device 200, as viewed by a rearimage-capture device 270, is reflected on the live image-capture previewon the display 250 of the mobile computing device.

The image-capture UI may also include other UI elements or features. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 3, one or more software camera controls may beprovided. Camera icon 385 may be used to trigger the capture of an imageresponsive to user input received at the icon.

According to certain implementations, the live image-capture preview maybe superimposed or overlaid with elements of the lock-screen UI. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 3, the indication of the time 385, and otherlock-screen UI elements 380 are still visible even though the liveimage-capture preview is being displayed. Accordingly, the mobilecomputing device 200 may provide notice to a user that the mobilecomputing device is still in a locked state.

Various approaches may be utilized to ensure the lock-screen UI and liveimage-capture preview are distinctly visible. In some implementations,the live image-capture preview may be darkened. In anotherimplementation, a shadow or outline may be provided around lock-screenor other UI elements to distinguish them from the live image-capturepreview.

According to certain implementations, the lock-screen UI elements may behidden after initial display with the live image-capture preview. Insome implementations, the lock-screen UI elements may be hidden after apredetermined amount of time elapsed since entering the image-capturemode, or since user input was received. In another implementation, thelock-screen UI elements may be hidden responsive to receiving aparticular user input.

According to certain implementations, indications for only a limitedsubset of available image-capture functionality may be displayed afterentering the image-capture mode from a lock-screen of the mobilecomputing device 200. For example, an image-capture UI may not initiallyinclude icons or other widgets for accessing zoom or flash controls. Insome implementations, however, controls for a set of expanded set ofimage-capture functionality may be displayed in response to receiving aparticular user input while in the image-capture mode. In an exampleimplementation, unlocking or authentication may be required to accessthe expanded features.

According to certain implementations, an image may be captured while inthe image-capture mode, responsive to receiving a particular user input.In some implementations, user input corresponding to a capture imagecommand may be received at a software widget or other UI element, forexample icon 385, as shown in FIG. 3. In another implementation, userinput corresponding to the capture image command may be received at aphysical widget 175 of the mobile computing device. The use of physicalwidgets to trigger image capture may help prevent false positives, assignificant normal force may need to be applied across a small surface,for example, to depress a physical button.

In some implementations, physical buttons and other widgets associatedwith a primary or default command or function may be associated withother commands while in image-capture mode. For example, a volumecontrol rocker may be used to trigger the capture of an image while theimage-capture mode is activated, as shown in FIG. 3. In an exampleimplementation, a button for ending the image-capture mode or poweringdown the display 255 may be physically located on an opposite side ofthe mobile computing device from a button for trigger the capture of animage (see e.g., 175A and 175B in FIG. 4).

In some implementations, physical widgets may also be assigned differentfunctions based on the orientation (and thus their positions respectiveto the user) of the mobile computing device. For example, in the firstorientation of 400A, volume rocker 175A on top of the mobile computingdevice may be used to trigger capture of an image, and the power button175B on the bottom of the computing device may cause the image-capturemode to end or the display 255 to power down when depressed; in thesecond orientation of 400B, the volume rocker, now on bottom, may causethe image-capture mode to end or the display to power down whendepressed and the power button may cause the capture of an image.

According to certain implementations, to further the prevention of falsepositives (e.g., taking photos or activating the camera streams byaccident) the display of the mobile computing device may be required tobe powered on or activated before an image-capture mode maybe activated.In another implementation, the display of the mobile computing devicemust be powered on or activated responsive to user input, rather than aninternal device event, such as a new message or low batterynotification.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method 400 for activating an image-capturemode from a lock-screen of a mobile computing device 200, according toan example implementation. As shown in FIG. 5, the method 500 starts inblock 502, and, according to an example implementation, includesdisplaying, by a mobile device in a portrait orientation, a lock-screenuser interface. In block 504, the method 500 includes responsive todetermining that the mobile device, while still displaying thelock-screen user interface, has entered a landscape orientation,displaying a live image-capture preview overlaid over at least a portionof the lock-screen user interface such that one or more elements of thelock-screen user interface are still visible. In block 506, the method500 includes responsive to receiving, at the mobile device, user inputcorresponding to a capture image command, capturing, by the mobiledevice, an image corresponding to the live image-capture preview.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of another method 500 for activating animage-capture mode from a lock-screen of a mobile computing device 200,according to an example implementation. As shown in FIG. 6, the method600 starts in block 602, and, according to an example implementation,includes displaying, by the mobile device in a portrait orientation, alock-screen user interface. In block 604, the method 600 includesresponsive to determining that the mobile device, while still displayingthe lock-screen user interface, has entered a landscape orientation,displaying a live image-capture preview overlaid over at least a portionof the lock-screen user interface such that one or more elements of thelock-screen user interface are still visible. In block 606, the method600 includes responsive to a predetermined amount of time elapsingwithout receiving user input at the mobile device, stopping thedisplaying of the live image-capture preview.

It will be understood that the various steps shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 areillustrative only, and that steps may be removed, other steps may beused, or the order of steps may be modified.

Certain implementations of the disclosed technology are described abovewith reference to block and flow diagrams of systems and methods and/orcomputer program products according to example implementations of thedisclosed technology. It will be understood that one or more blocks ofthe block diagrams and flow diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theblock diagrams and flow diagrams, respectively, may be implemented bycomputer-executable program instructions. Likewise, some blocks of theblock diagrams and flow diagrams may not necessarily need to beperformed in the order presented, or may not necessarily need to beperformed at all, according to some implementations of the disclosedtechnology.

These computer-executable program instructions may be loaded onto ageneral-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a processor, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a particularmachine, such that the instructions that execute on the computer,processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus create meansfor implementing one or more functions specified in the flow diagramblock or blocks. These computer program instructions may also be storedin a computer-readable memory that may direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meansthat implement one or more functions specified in the flow diagram blockor blocks. As an example, implementations of the disclosed technologymay provide for a computer program product, comprising a computer-usablemedium having a computer-readable program code or program instructionsembodied therein, said computer-readable program code adapted to beexecuted to implement one or more functions specified in the flowdiagram block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also beloaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatusto cause a series of operational elements or steps to be performed onthe computer or other programmable apparatus to produce acomputer-implemented process such that the instructions that execute onthe computer or other programmable apparatus provide elements or stepsfor implementing the functions specified in the flow diagram block orblocks.

Accordingly, blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagrams supportcombinations of means for performing the specified functions,combinations of elements or steps for performing the specified functionsand program instruction means for performing the specified functions. Itwill also be understood that each block of the block diagrams and flowdiagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and flowdiagrams, may be implemented by special-purpose, hardware-based computersystems that perform the specified functions, elements or steps, orcombinations of special-purpose hardware and computer instructions.

While certain implementations of the disclosed technology have beendescribed in connection with what is presently considered to be the mostpractical and various implementations, it is to be understood that thedisclosed technology is not to be limited to the disclosedimplementations, but on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope ofthe appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, theyare used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation.

This written description uses examples to disclose certainimplementations of the disclosed technology, including the best mode,and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice certainimplementations of the disclosed technology, including making and usingany devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. Thepatentable scope of certain implementations of the disclosed technologyis defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur tothose skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be withinthe scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do notdiffer from the literal language of the claims, or if they includeequivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from theliteral language of the claims.

We claim:
 1. A method comprising: displaying, by a mobile device in aportrait orientation, a lock-screen user interface; responsive todetermining, while still displaying the lock-screen user interface, thatthe mobile device has entered a landscape orientation, displaying a liveimage-capture preview; and responsive to receiving user inputcorresponding to a capture image command, capturing an imagecorresponding to the live image-capture preview.
 2. The method of claim1, further comprising, responsive to determining that the mobile devicehas re-entered a portrait orientation, maintaining the display of thelive image-capture preview.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the userinput corresponding to capture image command is received at a physicalwidget of the mobile device.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein thephysical widget is configured to effect a change in volume control whilethe live image-capture preview is not being displayed.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising displaying a virtual widget, wherein theuser input corresponding to capture image command is received at thevirtual widget.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user inputcorresponding to the capture image command is a second user input, themethod further comprising displaying one or more camera user interfacecontrols responsive receiving a first user input.
 7. The method of claim1, wherein the user input corresponding to the capture image command isa second user input, the method further comprising hiding one or moreelements of the lock-screen user interface, responsive to receiving afirst user input.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the mobile deviceremains in a locked state after hiding the one more elements of thelock-screen user interface.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprisinga physical button for controlling a volume of the mobile device, whereinthe user input corresponding to the capture image command is received atthe physical button.
 10. A mobile device comprising: at least oneprocessor; at least one memory operatively coupled to the at least oneprocessor and configured for storing data and instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the mobile device to perform a methodcomprising: displaying, by the mobile device in a portrait orientation,a lock-screen user interface; responsive to determining, while stilldisplaying the lock-screen user interface, that the mobile device hasentered a landscape orientation, displaying a live image- capturepreview; and responsive to receiving user input corresponding to acapture image command, capturing an image corresponding to the liveimage-capture preview.
 11. The mobile device of claim 10, furthercomprising a first front image-capture device and a second rearimage-capture device, the method further comprising determining adirection of rotation associated with the mobile device entering thelandscape orientation, and wherein the live image-capture previewcorresponds to the front image-capture device based on a first directionof rotation and the live image-capture preview corresponds to the rearimage-capture device based on a second direction of rotation.
 12. Themobile device of claim 10, further comprising a physical widget, whereinthe user input corresponding to the capture image command is received atthe physical widget.
 13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein thephysical widget is depressible.
 14. The mobile device of claim 12,wherein the physical widget is depressible is a first physical widgetand positioned on the mobile device on a side opposite a second physicalwidget of the mobile device, the second physical widget being a powerbutton.
 15. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the physical widgetis configured to effect a change in volume control while the phone isunlocked.
 16. The mobile device of claim 10, further comprising,responsive to determining that the mobile device has re-entered aportrait orientation, maintaining the display of the live image-capturepreview.
 17. A computer-program product embodied in a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereonthat, when executed by a mobile device, causes the mobile device toperform a method comprising: displaying, by the mobile device in aportrait orientation, a lock-screen user interface; responsive todetermining, while still displaying the lock-screen user interface, thatthe mobile device has entered a landscape orientation, displaying a liveimage-capture preview; and responsive to user input corresponding to acapture image command, capturing an image corresponding to the liveimage-capture preview.
 18. The computer-program product of claim 17, themethod further comprising powering down a display device of the mobiledevice, responsive to a predetermined amount of time elapsing.
 19. Thecomputer-program product of claim 17, wherein the mobile device displaysan indication of a current time of day when displaying a liveimage-capture preview.
 20. The computer-program product of claim 17,further comprising, responsive to determining that the mobile device hasre-entered a portrait orientation, maintaining the display of the liveimage-capture preview.